assingment 2

Writing Assignment 2
by MsRamiza on Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:24 am

Task

You will write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper/magazine based on a news report/ article from the same newspaper/magazine that you have read. You may write on any issue or aspect related to the news report/article/ editorial.
Your letter should be between 180 to 250 words typed in the format shown in this module (refer to the topic Writing Letters to the Editor).

Portfolio content

1. The newspaper/magazine article/editorial. State information eg. Name of source, date of publication.
2. Paragraph outline
3. First draft
4. Peer Feedback Form 2
5. Second draft
6. Self-editing Worksheet 2
7. Final draft

I. Pre-writing

To help you decide what to include in your letter, ask yourself these questions:
a. What is the name of the newspaper/magazine from which you have taken your article/report? What is the date of publication of your article/report/editorial? What section?
b. What is the address to which the letter should be sent to?
c. What is the topic of the news report/article/editorial?
d. What aspect of the news do you intend to focus on?
e. Why is this particular aspect interesting/important to you?
f. What is the issue that you want to highlight in the newspaper/magazine?
g. What is your stand/attitude towards the issue?
h. Why do you think the public/magazine’s readers would be interested to read your letter?
i. What details/explanations/reasons/descriptions can you offer to interest/convince the readers?
j. What action do you want the readers to take after reading your letter?

II. Prepare an outline

Opening sentence: ______________________________________________________
Topic sentence: ________________________________________________
Supporting detail 1: ________________________________________________
Supporting detail 2: ________________________________________________
Supporting detail 3: ________________________________________________
Conclusion/call for action: ________________________________________________

Present an oral summary of the news report/article and your paragraph outline to the class, as required by your instructor.

III. Drafting and feedback

a. Write the first draft
Using the outline you have prepared, draft your letter. Connect your ideas in the outline into coherent sentences (sentences that make sense). Expand the sentences to include specific details. Use appropriate transitional words.
Read your letter to your partner. Your partner asks questions for clarification on the part of the writing that is unclear or lacking development using wh-questions such as why, who, where, what, when, whose and how. Most importantly, ask questions relating the supporting details with the topic sentence. Make notes/changes on the draft as you answer your partner’s questions.
Hand the draft to your partner (your instructor may appoint a different partner for you at each stage of the writing process). Your partner reads your letter and fills in the Peer Feedback Form 2. This completed feedback form is one of the items to be included in your portfolio for submission.

b. Write the second draft of your paragraph

Using the feedback given in the Peer Feedback Form 2 as a guide, write your second draft.
Then, edit your letter using the Self-editing Worksheet 2. At this point, your instructor may query you about your writing and give general feedback for further improvement in terms of coherence, relevance, development and language use.


c. Write the final draft of your paragraph

Write the final draft of your letter and submit it together with all the items required in the Writing Assignment 2 portfolio.
MsRamiza

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Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:53 pm